This is my 200th blog post. What a milestone. I never thought I would make more than 50 posts, but here I am.
The books I review in this blog are normally Leonberger books but sometimes I review other kinds of books that I love and that I want to promote. In this post I will review the seventh and eighth book of a great series of books called the Harbor Point series. To see my reviews for books one and two click here and for books three and four click here and to see my reviews for books five and six click here. Below are the books I am reviewing in this post.
- A Death at The Inn: Harbor Pointe Series Book 7 by Joan Hall
- The Room at the End: Harbor Pointe Series Book 8 by Harmony Kent
A Death at The Inn
A Death at The Inn by Joan Hall comes in a paperback edition, and a Kindle edition and I read the paperback edition.
- Paperback – January 2, 2024, ASIN : B0CKP1N2GS, ISBN-13 : 979-8863429687, 108 pages, Item Weight : 6.1 ounces, dimensions : 5 x 0.25 x 8 inches, it is currently $5.99 on Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
- Kindle – January 2, 2024, ASIN : B0CCR3HMBD, 104 pages. It is currently $2.99 on Amazon.com (free with kindle unlimited). Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
This is Amazon’s description of the book.
The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.
Suicide, accident, or murder?
After an argument with her fiancé, up-and-coming actress Leah Myers booked a room at the Harbor Pointe Inn. Near the end of her stay, someone found her body at the bottom of the nearby cliff. The police ruled her death a suicide.
Five years later, four people from Leah’s past visit the inn on the anniversary of her death. Her fiancé, her brother, her psychologist, and her close friend, Adele, who was a guest at Harbor Pointe the night Leah died.
Deputy Brad Sherman, assistant to the lead detective, has always believed something was amiss with the investigation. When he learns Leah’s former acquaintances are staying at the inn, he decides to look at the old case file.
The four guests soon learn each other’s identity and begin to discuss the events leading up to Leah’s demise. But someone doesn’t want them to know the truth. When Adele confesses she is haunted by the possibility she saw something important that fateful night, it puts her in grave danger.
Now it’s a race against time before she becomes the killer’s next victim.
This is my five-star Amazon Review of A Death at The Inn
Dark Secrets and a Mysterious Death
On the five-year anniversary of Leah Myer’s death at Harbor Pointe, four people, her brother, a close friend of Leah, her former fiancée and her therapist check into Harbor Point Inn in search of answers and to grieve. They don’t know each other, and they all took the trip independently of each other. Leah’s death was ruled a suicide, but the police investigation seemed to have been rushed and some people have questions. There are a lot of indicators that something else happened.
The setting is a lonely lighthouse and an Inn located close to the lighthouse. The lighthouse is located on a dark and spooky seaside cliff on the California coast and there are rumors of hauntings. The story is a suspenseful detective mystery. There are clues, conundrums, secrets, conflicts and unseen danger. The end is very dramatic and intense.
The story is cleverly composed and masterfully told. The character development is great, and the four protagonists are very relatable. Page by page one revelation leads to another mystery, which is one reason this book is a real page turner. This book is gripping as well as a fun read and I highly recommend it.
About the Author
Joan Hall has always enjoyed reading or listening to stories about inexplicable events, so it’s not surprising she writes mystery and romantic suspense. A lover of classic rock music, songs often serve as the inspiration for her books.
When she’s not writing, Joan likes to observe the night skies, explore old cemeteries, and learn about legends and folklore. She and her husband live in Texas with their two cats. Learn more about Joan at her website.
The Room at the End
The eighth book The Room at the End by Harmony Kent also comes in a paperback edition, and a Kindle edition and in this case, I also read the paperback version.
- Paperback – January 9, 2024, ASIN : B0CKY93GFF, ISBN-13 : 979-8863429687, 118 pages, Item Weight : 4.3 ounces, dimensions : 5 x 0.27 x 8 inches, it is currently $6.99 on Amazon. Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
- Kindle – January 9, 2024 : ASIN : B0CCSFMC8J, 95 pages. It is currently $2.99 on Amazon.com (free with kindle unlimited). Click here to order it from Amazon.com.
This is Amazon’s description of the book.
The Harbor Pointe Inn has loomed on California’s cliffs for generations of Hawthornes. For some, it’s been a blessing. For others, a curse. Travel through two centuries of stories to discover the old inn’s secrets.
When guilt-ridden Mia checks in to a suicide hotel, but can’t go through with the final act, vengeful ghosts gather to torment her.
Set in the near future, the post-war world is in turmoil.
Mia Hawthorne suffers an emotional breakdown, following the death of her wife, and loses everything to a corrupt government.
In an ironic twist of fate, the government suicide department, The Last Sanctuary, allocates a desperate and destitute Mia to the very hotel and family heirloom which she has so recently lost.
On her first day at the Lighthouse Inn, beset with painful memories, doubts, and questions, Mia finds herself coming face to face with angry ghosts, who gather to goad and torment her.
Lost and alone, can Mia find enough strength and purpose to avoid her final, frightful fate?
This is my five-star Amazon Review of The Room at the End
Evil lurks in the dark corners, but there’s hope
This book is a paranormal dystopian science fiction taking place in the year 2072. The government is authoritarian and robots, Artificial Intelligence, and surveillance technology is in service of the government. Mia Hawthorne lost her wife Emmy to suicide, and she has also lost her family’s business, a hotel, the Inn by the lighthouse in Harbor Pointe, a place with a long history of hauntings and other mysteries. She has lost her desire to live, and the government’s suicide department has sent her to the Harbor Pointe Inn to take her own life. Basically, they sent her to end her life at the family business she lost. She is staying by herself in a spooky house a bit away from the Inn itself.
There are a few things in this novella that made it feel familiar to me. I used to live by the north Swedish coast, and I’ve visited many somewhat spooky lighthouses. I should say this lighthouse is by the north California coast. The puppy in the story is named Ollie, just like my wife’s best friend’s dog. When Mia arrives, she orders a local IPA at the bar, just like I would have, but she gets a lager instead, which is typically what happens to me.
The story starts out very dark, everything goes wrong, evil is lurking and attacking. There are ghosts, apparitions and a powerful sinister presence that wants Mia dead. However, things are not exactly like they look to Mia and the other guests and employees at the hotel. There are shocking revelations, incredible discoveries, and there is hope. Mia has the power to set things right in a big way.
This is a very atmospheric story, there are storms, strange events, foreboding circumstances and disturbing hauntings. The forces of darkness are indeed very present and very powerful in this novella. The story features a lot of interesting surprises, it is very suspenseful and well written. In other words, it is a real page turner and an excellent finale to the Harbor Pointe series. I highly recommend this book.
About the Author
The Battle for Brisingamen (Fantasy Fiction) AIA approved
Harmony Kent is an award winning multi-genre author. Her publications include:
The Glade (Mystery/Thriller) AIA Approved/BRAG Medallion Honouree/New Apple Literary Awards Official Selection Honours 2015
Polish Your Prose: Essential Editing Tips for Authors (Writing/Editing) New Apple Literary Awards Top Medallist Honours 2015
Finding Katie (Women’s Fiction)
Slices of Soul: Book 1 in the Soul Poetry Series (Contemporary Poetry)
Life & Soul: Book 2 in the Soul Poetry Series (Contemporary Poetry)
Interludes 1 & Interludes 2 (Erotic Short Stories)
Moments (Short Stories and Poetry)
Jewel in the Mud (Zen Musings)
Backstage (Erotic Romance)
FALLOUT (Apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic Dystopia) BRAG Medallion Honouree
The Vanished Boy (Psychological Thriller)
As well as being an avid reader and writer, Harmony also offers reviews and supports her fellow authors. Harmony works hard to promote and protect high standards within the publishing arena. She is always on the look out for talent and excellence, and will freely promote any authors or books who she feels have these attributes. Harmony lives in Cornwall, England.
twitter: @harmony_kent
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/HarmonyK
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